Fall 2018 & Spring 2019 (Yearlong Course)
Mathematics Department
Valentin H. Samano CWI: College Algebra (3 credits) NHS Room 124, M - F 7:15 am - 3:15 pm CWI: Math 143 Section TBD
NSD: Algebra III (2 credits)
[email protected]208-498-0551 ext. 6757 NSD: Math 350
Students and Instructors are accountable for all information on the Course Syllabus. For further information regarding course and for course notes:
Google > ‘Mr. Samano’s Website’ > High School Mathematics Repository >
Textbook, Forms and Documents.
Instructor Availability
Open availability in classroom Room 124 at NHS: 7:15 – 3:15 pm (if not teaching)
Not available on Wednesdays as Nampa School District staff have Professional Development.
For any other time, please email or call to schedule an appointment; email is preferable.
Course Description
This course includes fundamental concepts of algebra; equations and inequalities;
functions and graphs; polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions;
systems of equations and inequalities; conics and the Binomial Theorem (as time permits*). Credit hours are not granted in both MATH 143 and MATH 147.
PREREQ: Units 1-12 of MATH 095, or prior completion of MATH 108, or equivalent placement score. For Nampa School District, a C (70%) or greater in Algebra II or it’s equivalent course and a C (70%) or greater in Algebra III Semester 1, or with instructor permission.
General Education Competency Area
This course fulfills the Idaho State General Education competency area of Mathematical Ways of Knowing.
This course meets the following student competencies in fulfillment of State Board of Education policy:
Read, interpret, and communicate mathematical concepts.
Represent and interpret information/data.
Select, execute, and explain appropriate strategies/procedures when solving mathematical problems.
Apply quantitative reasoning to draw appropriate conclusions and support them.
Academic Affairs Objectives
This course meets the following Academic Affairs Objectives:
Learn to Learn. Students learn that as important as content knowledge is, shaping one’s future requires the development of skill in discerning, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating knowledge in diverse contexts. The educational experience at CWI prepares students for a world in which they are likely to change occupations and face unpredictable life events. We strive to develop courses and learning experiences that give students the tools to confidently thrive in a complex, information-saturated, diverse, and dynamic world.
Make Connections. Students learn success in today’s interconnected world
requires deliberate engagement and comfort with multiple perspectives, cultures, and contexts. In navigating difference and diversity in the natural and social worlds, students connect ideas, forms of knowledge, and practices to create a richer understanding of themselves as personally and socially responsible citizens.
Solve Problems. Students identify problems, analyze and implement solutions, and interpret and reflect on outcomes to develop skills to individually and
collaboratively face challenges and create opportunities.
☐ Reason Ethically. Students learn that ethical ideas and moral conduct may be understood from many perspectives: as products of historical, cultural, and religious forces, as reflections of human nature, and as personally held attitudes and beliefs. Students learn to articulate ethical self-awareness, ethical issue recognition, and varieties of ethical perspectives to evaluate, create, and live consciously according to their own personal moral values.
Course Schedule
Instruction will take place in Room 124 of Nampa Senior High School. See NHS class schedules for times:
A-Day: Period 4 B-Day: Period 2 Course Focus
The course will focus on the 8 Mathematical Practices from the Common Core State Standards in learning mathematics. The course will follow the Course Calendar as outlined below; it is important to note that deviations from the course schedule may occur as unplanned school and natural events may interfere. Sections/content from the following chapters may be taught as time permits: Chapters 8 Matrices & Determinants;
Chapter 9 Sequences, Series, and Probability; Chapter 11 Analytic Geometry in Three Dimensions; Chapter 12 Limits & an Introduction to Calculus; and Chapter 13 Concepts in Statistics.
Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes
The Course Objective is to provide students with the mathematical foundation necessary to be able to learn new concepts helpful to them as employees, citizens, and consumers.
Students completing this course are expected to acquire the ability and skills to:
A. Solve Equations and Inequalities
1. Identify a problem as belonging to one of the following categories:
linear/quadratic/rational/radical/exponential/logarithmic/absolute value
equation, or linear/quadratic/compound/absolute value/rational inequality,
system of equations, system of inequalities 2. Select appropriate strategy to solve problem 3. Perform strategy to solve problem
4. Check that solution is accurate and reasonable B. Analyze and Represent Graphs
1. Identify and create basic linear, quadratic, cubic, square root, cube root, rational, exponential, logarithmic, absolute value, step, and piecewise functions
2. Apply simple transformations to basic linear, quadratic, cubic, square root, cube root, rational, exponential, logarithmic, absolute value, and step functions
3. Create equations from graphs
4. Identify basic characteristics of any graph even when no equation is known. These characteristics may include domain, range, areas where graph increases, decreases, or remains constant, extrema, intercepts, and minimum degree where appropriate.
C. Use and Understand Functions
1. Determine if a relation is a function 2. Define the domain and range
3. Evaluate functions
4. Create, evaluate, and analyze composite functions 5. Identify one-to-one functions
6. Where appropriate, find inverse function 7. Use composition to prove inverses
8. Find the zeroes of a function 9. Find the difference quotient D. Apply Algebraic Content
1. Create mathematical models 2. Solve application problems
3. Justify and interpret solutions within the context of the problem 4. Communicate rationale behind choice of strategy
E. Represent Conic Sections
1. Represent circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas graphically 2. Represent circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas algebraically 3. Make connections between the equations and graphs of circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas
Outcomes Assessment
The student learning outcomes will be assessed using homework, quizzes, unit tests, and a final exam.
Grading Policy
Category Weight
Homework 10%
Exams & Quizzes 70%
End of Course Exam
(EOC) 20%
TOTAL: 100%
Letter grades will be determined as follows:
A: 90-100%
B: 80-89%
C: 70-79%
D: 60-69%
F: 59% or below
This is a two-semester course for NSD; each semester is graded independently. For the CWI yearlong course, the average of Semester 1 and Semester 2 grades will be the final course grade.
Special Note for Dual Credit CWI students: The final exam (EOC) needs to be passed with a 60% or greater to obtain a C (70%) or above for the CWI course.
This means the final exam needs to be passed; otherwise you’ll receive a D (60%) for the CWI course (though not the NSD course).
Textbooks and Required Materials
The textbook for the course is PreCalculus with Limits, Fourth Edition, by Larson &
Battaglia, Pearson, 2018. A graphing scientific calculator is highly recommended but not required. Desmos Graphing App is recommended but not required.
Creation of a WebAssign account is required for homework, quizzes and exams, your ebook, and many other useful resources. Create your account at www.webassign.com >
enter class key (below) > follow directions.
Class Keys:
Period 4A: nampa.id 3540 1476 Period 2B: nampa.id 0888 1581 Methods of Delivery
Instruction will be in Room 124. Most instruction will be direct teaching with occasional group or paired learning. Students are required to read the textbook before or after class to be prepared as well as complete all homework/classwork assignments for practice. All work is done at www.webassign.com. Some class time will be provided for homework but it should not be expected.
Course Calendar
Number Unit Topics and Tests
0
Unit 0: Review of Fundamental
Concepts of Algebra
A.2 Exponents and Radicals A.3 Polynomials and Factoring Unit 0 Exam Part A
A.4 Rational Expressions A.5 Solving Equations Unit 0 Exam Part B
1 Unit 1: Functions and Their Graphs
Sec. 1.4 Functions
Sec. 1.5 Analyzing Graphs of Functions Sec. 1.6 A Library of Parent Functions Unit 1 Exam Part A
Sec. 1.7 Transformations of Functions
Sec. 1.8 Combinations of Functions: Composite Functions Sec. 1.9 Inverse Functions
Unit 1 Exam Part B Semester 1 Exam 2 Unit 2: Polynomial
and Rational
Sec. 2.1 Quadratic Functions and Models Sec. 2.2 Polynomial Functions of Higher Degree
Functions
Sec. 2.3 Polynomial and Synthetic Division Sec. 2.4 Complex Numbers
Unit 2 Exam Part A
Sec. 2.5 Zeros of Polynomials Functions Sec. 2.6 Rational Functions
Sec. 2.7 Nonlinear Inequalities Unit 2 Exam Part B
3
Unit 3: Exponential and Logarithmic
Functions
Sec. 3.1 Exponential Functions and Their Graphs Sec. 3.2 Logarithmic Functions and Their Graphs Sec. 3.3 Properties of Logarithms
Sec. 3.4 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations Unit 3 Exam
4
Unit 4: System of Equations and
Inequalities
Sec. 7.1 Linear and Nonlinear Systems of Equations Sec. 7.2 Two-Variable Linear Systems
Sec. 7.3 Multivariable Linear Systems Sec. 7.5 System of Inequalities Unit 4 Exam
5
Unit 5: Matrices and Determinants (as time permits*)
Sec. 8.1 Matrices and Systems of Equations Sec. 8.2 Operations with Matrices
Sec. 8.3 The Inverse of a Square Matrix Sec. 8.4 The Determinant of a Square Matrix Unit 5 Exam
6
Unit 6: Sequences and Series (as time
permits*)
Sec. 9.1 Sequences and Series
Sec. 9.2 Arithmetic Sequences and Partial Sums Sec. 9.3 Geometric Sequences and Series Unit 6 Exam
7
Unit 7: Counting and Probability (as
time permits*)
Sec. 9.5 Binomial Theorem Sec. 9.6 Counting Principles Sec. 9.7 Probability
Unit 7 Exam 8
Unit 8: Topics in Analytical Geometry
Sec. 10.2 Introduction to Conics: Parabolas Sec. 10.3 Ellipses
Sec. 10.4 Hyperbolas Unit 8 Exam
9 EOC Exam
Course Expectations
The following are expectations for success in this course at the collegiate level (CWI).
These expectations are also required for the non-collegiate (NSD) students:
All exams and quizzes should be kept for future study; graded exams and quizzes will be returned within 2-3 class periods. For the CWI course, exams and quizzes CANNOT be retaken; for NSD, exams and quizzes can be retaken with instructor permission until the end of the
semester. New scores replace the old.
The average student can expect to spend approximately 5-6 out of class hours per week preparing and working for course. Most work is done at:www.webassign.com. Homework can be reworked until the end of the quarter or with instructor permission until the end of the semester.
All Policies and Procedures from the Nampa High School and CWI Student Handbook apply; read them.
Snacking and drinking in class are allowed as long as no mess is made. Drinks need to be in clear spill proof water bottle. This privilege can be taken away.
Be in your seat and prepared to learn by the time the bell rings to avoid a tardy.
Make every attempt to attend all lessons. If you miss a lesson, it is your responsibility to catch yourself up. Attendance policy follows Nampa High School Student Handbook—familiarize yourself with it.
Technology in class is allowed for notes, graphing and calculator abilities only.
However, if this privilege is abused or is too distracting to learning, technology will no longer be allowed in class. Abuse it, and everyone loses it. Cell phones on exams are not allowed, only scientific calculators.
Behavioral Expectations
Every student has the right to a respectful learning environment. In order to provide this right to all students, students must take individual responsibility to conduct themselves in a mature and appropriate manner and will be held
accountable for their behavior. Students who disrupt the class or behave
inappropriately or disrespectfully, as determined by the instructor, may be asked to leave the classroom; however, you will always be asked once to correct your behavior (unless it’s serious enough to warrant otherwise). Your inappropriate behavior will be documented and parents or administration possibly notified.
If conduct continues to be an issue, students may be referred to Administration for further judicial action. The instructor may refuse to have the student in the classroom based on misbehavior, at which time, other means will be found to educate the student.
Any student who has witnessed or experienced a violation of the student code as
outlined in class or the Nampa High School or CWI Student Handbook may contact any Administration or office staff in addition to the course instructor.
Academic Honesty:
All work submitted by a student must represent his or her own ideas, concepts, and current understanding. All material found during research must be correctly
documented to avoid plagiarism. Cheating or plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and violations may result in disciplinary action ranging from failure of the assignment to failure of the course. Repeated acts of academic dishonesty may have more severe institutional ramifications. The consequences for cheating in this class are listed below:
The student will be reported to Administration to apply the Academic Honesty policy as outline in the Nampa High School or CWI Student Handbook.
The student will receive a “zero” for the assignment until the instructor, student, administration and parents have determined a reasonable resolution. The
resolution need not involve all the parties just listed, it will be based on the gravity of the violation with the instructor’s direction and recommendation.
Emergency Procedures
Please see your Nampa High School Student Handbook policy and the directions on the wall by the front door. The instructor will outline these procedures in class as well.
Affidavit of Syllabus as Contract
I _______________________ have read the course syllabus and understand the contents herein; and as such, I will strive to abide by its charter to the best of my abilities.
*Disclaimer: Any content herein may be adapted or adjusted as needed by the instructor for educational purposes and “what is in the best interest for the student” with notice.
Attendance in the course is acceptance of the syllabus; a signature is not required.